SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Saturday afternoon, the Wofford College baseball team defeated Mercer 5-1 at Russell C. King Field to even the weekend series. The Terriers used a two-run homer by Conor Clancey and an impressive start by pitcher Adam Scott to earn the victory.
 
Wofford is 28-13 overall and 6-5 in the Southern Conference. Mercer is 23-16, with a 10-4 mark in conference play. The Terriers had a 12 to 7 advantage in hits. Conor Clancey led the team with two hits and a pair of RBIs, while Derek Hirsch had three hits and an RBI. The Bears were led by Kyle Lewis with two hits and the lone RBI.
 
The Bears had a single in the first inning, but the runner was stranded at second base to end the top half. Wofford was retired in order in the bottom of the first. Mercer added a single with two outs in the top of the second, but the runner was picked off. Wofford had a single from Matt Pelt with two outs in the bottom of the second. Kody Ruedisili reached on an error. With runners on second and third, a ground out ended the scoring chance for the Terriers.
 
Mercer was retired in order in the top of the third. Derek Hirsch led off the Wofford half of the third with an infield single, but the Terriers left one runner on base to end the inning. The Bears left a runner at first in the top of the fourth inning. Conor Clancey began the bottom of the fourth with a single and Kody Ruedisili added a single with two outs. A walk loaded the bases and a single by Derek Hirsch drove in a run for a 1-0 game after four innings.
 
In the top of the fifth, Mercer led off with a double to right center. Three straight batters were retired to strand the runner. With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, James Plaisted singled. Conor Clancey then belted a ball over the trees behind the left field fence to give Wofford a 3-0 lead. Mercer left one runner on base in the top of the sixth.
 
Wofford opened the bottom of the sixth with a single by Matt Pelt and Kody Ruedisili walked. Max McDougald squared up to bunt, but instead pulled back and hit a single to shallow left field. Pelt scored to make it a 4-0 lead. An infield single by Derek Hirsch loaded the bases with nobody out. Alec Paradowski added an RBI single for a 5-0 score. A double play and strikeout ended the sixth inning with two Terriers left on base.
 
To start the seventh inning, Mercer had a single from Danny Edgeworth. Adam Scott retired the next three batters to end the top half. With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Mack Nathanson reached on a throwing error. Matt Pelt walked before a pair of fly balls ended the scoring chance. Mercer singled to start the eighth inning and was on third base with two outs. A single by Kyle Lewis drove in a run to make it a 5-1 score in the middle of the eighth.
 
The Terriers were retired in order in the bottom of the eighth. With one out in the top of the ninth, Mercer had a single from Howard Joe. A fly ball to right field and a strikeout ended the game with Wofford taking the win.
 
Wofford starting pitcher Adam Scott (5-2) went 7.2 innings and gave up only one run on five hits. He struck out four and walked only one batter. Jacob Condra-Bogan allowed one hit in a third of an inning. Will Stillman closed the game out by allowing one hit in the ninth with one strikeout.
 
Grant Papelian (4-3) started for Mercer and went five innings with three run allowed on seven hits. He struck out one batter and walked one. Ryan Askew gave up two runs on three hits without recording an out. Austin Lord gave up one hit in two-thirds of an inning. Mitchell Wade struck out the lone batter he faced. Carter Varga went two-thirds of an inning without allowing a hit. D.J. Johnson went the final 1 and a third and did not allow a hit.
 
Due to heavy rain forecast on Sunday, the third game of the weekend series has been canceled.